If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

If Beale Street Could Talk

James Baldwin

172 pages • first pub 1974 (editions)

fiction classics literary romance emotional medium-paced
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Description

Harlem, the black soul of New York City, in the era of Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. The narrator of Baldwin's novel is Tish nineteen, and pregnant. Her lover Fonny, father of her child, is in jail accused of rape. Flashbacks from their love af...

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Community Reviews Summary of 10,758 reviews

Moods

emotional 89%
sad 71%
reflective 53%
challenging 36%
dark 35%
tense 32%
hopeful 20%
inspiring 7%
informative 4%
funny 2%
mysterious 1%

Pace

medium 63%
fast 21%
slow 14%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 47% | Character: 39% | Plot: 12%

Strong character development?

Yes: 56% | It's complicated: 26% | No: 13% | N/A: 3%

Loveable characters?

Yes: 80% | It's complicated: 16% | No: 2% | N/A: 1%

Diverse cast of characters?

Yes: 86% | No: 6% | It's complicated: 4% | N/A: 2%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

No: 40% | It's complicated: 28% | Yes: 26% | N/A: 3%

Average rating

4.32

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Content Warnings

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